Handling returning to work after a (wrongful) suspension

[KookyNotOoky]

I will avoid the gritty details as colleagues use this site, just to say that I was recently suspended for several weeks without pay after I was accused of doing something at work I had not done. I was ultimately able to prove my innocence and am now back at work. Needless to say though, the experience has left me with a very bitter taste in my mouth and it is now very awkward at work.

HR were predictably dreadful throughout, and my manager was very quick to chuck me under the bus when it looked like HR might be firing me, as, if the allegation had been true, it would have reflected badly on him. He is now being extra nice and fake friendly, however the relationship AFAIC is severely compromised as I don't trust him to have my back.

I was eventually to able to furnish evidence disproving the allegation, and the investigation was closed with no further action, however I am really not happy with how I was treated and the employer-employee trust has pretty much gone. I am seriously considering just moving, however it is super annoying as the job ticks a lot of boxes in terms of pay, commute times, school run etc.

How have other people handled this situation? And should I quit?

Have they backdated your pay and benefits?

Don't leave, but have a look around, see what's available and if there's anything you fancy.

I wouldnt quit without a new job to go to.

Use this time to search - there will be little pressure on you given the piss poor handling by your employer.

Bide your time. Quitting will give them a sigh of relief.

Stay there and you will remind them that they cannot fuck with you and that they know they fucked up. The guilt they feel will be off the scale and they will probably leave you alone for a very long time.

As for your cunt manager - ignore, and only communicate via email - therefore everything is evidenced for any future eventuality.

I also hope they reimbursed your lost wages too.

Don’t quit! Head held high, and get job hunting. And if you don’t already have a union, and you can, join one!

I was suspended for 17 weeks on full pay whist investigations were made in malicious allegations against me by a gang of colleagues. They actively conspired to have me sacked. Thankfully I was able to disprove one of their 5 allegations which showed them to be unreliable.
I returned to work with the best intentions but working there was completely untenable. I quit, found a new job. I had to take a paycut but my sanity and self worth was priceless.

I would suggest raising a grievance about the suspension, particularly as it was without pay - check employee handbook to see if they broke their guidelines. Then I would propose a settlement agreement without prejudice where they pay you your notice plus an additional figure for you to leave quietly and not say nasty things about the company. They would not be able to say nasty things about you and would have to give a reference.

See the positives: you now know who the snakes are.

Be pleasant and fake nice to everyone, the way they are to you.

Keep records of everything. Make sure EVERYTHING is documented in emails etc.

Now you know that in this workplace you only look out for number one. Don’t think twice about throwing your manager under a bus right back if it comes to it.

Get what you can out of the workplace and start looking for a new job.

My first thought was also have they backdated your pay and benefits.

If not and they won't I'd be going off sick now!

And using that time to find something else.

If you do return I wouldn't be easy over nice and make life easy for them. I wouldn't be rude though.

I'd be standoffish enough to make them to the grovelling!

Your contract allows them to suspend without pay?

I would go back to work. Be polite but nothing more. Look for a new job, hard as it is move on. However before I would go:

I would ask for a GDPR request of all the information/documents that they hold relating to you and or with your name on them. Once you have a new job secured I would be making vague grumblings to hr etc about taking lawsuits. Make them sweat.

My advice would be similar and I would boom an appointment with an employment solicitor to discuss how best to go about this. Make sure you get legal advice before doing anything, only so you're fully protected/not exposed and can manage an exit which you are in control of.

Frankly, I'd expect any employee of mine to do this after such an experience.

Suspension should be on full pay. I would join a union and call ACAS Raise a grievance if they have broken the rules meanwhile job hunt. Until then, head up, noone should know why you have been off, if they do they gave failed in duty if care for you.

Suspension does not have to be paid if the contract allows it. Which is why I asked. It's unusual to have such a contractual term, but the law does permit it. Of course, the other possibility is that this isn;t governed by UK law.

Suspension without pay is awful, as PP say, please check your contract if this is allowed. But as you are now back at work, this should be backdated.

Please be aware that 9/10 HR are not the decision makers so unlikely to be them looking to sack you, this will have been instigated by management, either your line manager or the level above.

Also agree that I'd propose a without prejudice conversation and ask for a settlement rather than walking away. Ideally I'd do that with another job lined up though, so you can go from one to the other with the benefit of a bit of a payout for your trouble.

I have had a similar grievance with my employers, but no suspension. It feels horrible to be around people who have treated you badly, and, like you, I'm struggling with the idea of resigning because there are a lot of good things with my job that I wouldn't get elsewhere ...

I don't know what the answer is, but I feel for you.